SIMPLIFIED RULES

RULE 1. - THE PLAYING FIELDSec. 2 THE OFFICIAL DIMENSIONS of the diamond shall be:
A. 70 feet between bases
B. Pitcher stands a minimum 50 feet from home plate
Sec. 3 THE COMMITMENT LINE is 20 feet from the home plate.
Sec. 5 THE PITCHING ZONE is 2’x5’, starting 50 feet from home plate. A pitcher may choose to pitch from anywhere within this zone.

RULE 2. - EQUIPMENTSec. 1E. Authorized bats are marked “OFFICIAL SOFTBALL”
G. The umpire is final authority on whether a bat is approved
Sec. 2 THE OFFICIAL BALL shall be a league approved 12" softball.
Sec. 3 THE HOME PLATE shall be a 2' x 3' mat.
Sec. 5 A DOUBLE BASE is mandatory for use at first base.
B. If there is a play at first base, and the batter touches only the white base, he is out
C. If there is a play at first base, and the defensive player touches only the orange base, the batter is safe
E. Once the batter is safe at first base, he must use only the white portion of the base
Sec. 7 A SHOE with metal cleats, is prohibited.
Sec. 8A. Players shall wear their clothing properly in the opinion of the umpire
B. Jewelery that the umpire deems as being a safety concern for the
other players is not permitted to be worn during the game

RULE 4. - THE GAMESec. 3 THE START OF THE GAME is when a representative of the home team has prayed aloud in the presence of both teams.
Sec. 4D. Only a maximum of 7 runs can be scored in each of innings 1-4, and only a maximum of 14 runs can be scored in each inning after the 4th inning. The game is over when it is mathematically impossible for the losing team to catch-up.

RULE 5. - THE PLAYERS, SUBSTITUTES AND RE-ENTRYSec. 1 A TEAM shall consist of a minimum of 9 players. Sec. 3A. A team must have a minimum 2 females if a team only consists of 9 players, and a minimum 3 females if a team consists of 10+ players.
C. The players playing defensively may be changed at any time as long as there is a maximum 7 males, minimum 2 females, and no more than 10 players total.
Sec. 9B. A player who is bleeding must have the bleeding controlled, cleaned up and the wound completely covered.

SIMPLIFIED RULES (continued)

RULE 6. - PITCHINGSec. 3A. The pitcher’s pivot foot must be within the confines of the pitching zone, and remain within the pitching zone, until the release of the ball
B. The pitcher may only take one step with the free foot in a direction of
his choice during the actions of delivering the pitch
Sec. 5B. The pitched ball must have a noticeable arc of at least 6 feet, and no more than 12 feet

RULE 7. - BATTINGSec. 1 THE BATTING ORDER must have a minimum 2 female players, and cannot have more than 20 total players.
Sec. 3 THE BATTER CANNOT:C. Deliberately bunt or swing the bat downward to chop the ball
E. Steps across the home plate with the pitcher in the pitching position

RULE 8. - BASERUNNINGSec. 3 THE BASERUNNER CANNOT:R. Stop having contact with a base until the pitch has crossed home plate or been hit
V. Touch home plate or cross over home plate at any time Sec. 4 THE BATTER-BASERUNNER CANNOT:O. Choose not to circle the bases after hitting a home run Sec. 11 BASE STEALING is not permitted.
Sec. 14A. No sliding while attempting to touch and/or cross the scoring line
B. A baserunner who passes the COMMITMENT LINE can’t go back, except to tag-up on a flyball out
C. A baserunner may be tagged out between the commitment line and the scoring line
Sec. 15 COURTESY RUNNERS may be used, after the batter has safely reached base, a maximum of three (3) times per game. A male can only be a courtesy runner for a male, but a female can be a courtesy runner for both a male or a female.

RULE 10. - UMPIRESSec. 1 THE PLATE UMPIRE shall have the authority to make decisions on any situations not specifically covered in the rules.

RULE 13. - SAMSON CHRISTIAN SLO-PITCH LEAGUESec. 1A. Churches cannot share players
C. All players must be a minimum 16 years old
D. Most players must attend the church the team represents
Sec. 2A. All players must be present at the field for the first pitch
B. Team’s must meet game requirements by game 1 start time, and if they can’t, will be given 1⁄2 hour to meet the requirements for game 2
Sec. 4 NO ALCOHOL OR FOUL LANGUAGE at anytime, anywhere.
Sec. 5 ALL PLAYERS must agree that the Samson Christian Slo-Pitch League and Samson League Inc. is not, and will not be, responsible for any injury that is a result of participation in the league.

OBLIGATIONS TO THE LEAGUE

SCORE SUBMISSION
After the game, the game results must be submitted to the league office via the completion of an online form at www.samsonleague.ca. Submissions via other methods will not be accepted unless the league office deems special circumstances warrant the use of another method.
Failure to submit the scores by noon on the first Thursday following game completion will result in your team starting the next game with a 7 run deficit and the second game with a 3 run deficit. For each noon that passes on subsequent days without score submission, 1 run will be added to the second game deficit to a maximum of 7 runs.

PARTICIPATION
Every team is obligated to participate in every scheduled game. All efforts must be made (in good faith) to have your roster as complete as possible, and the players on that roster on the diamond, by the stated game start time. Refusal to participate in a scheduled game will result in a $100 fine payable to the opposing team and a $100 fine payable to the league. Until the fines are paid, all subsequent games will be deemed a forfeit loss for that team, no matter their outcome. Games deemed a forfeit loss will not be reversed upon payment.